Secondary Education Enhancement Project

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The latest Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for Egypt, dated 1997, specifies the need for a skilled labor force to sustain a long-term economic development, and, establish an equitable education system to meet these social and economic requirements. The inadequacy of secondary education is reflected in the many shortcomings within the curriculum and examination system, coupled with deficient pedagogical skills. Within the strategic context, the Secondary Education Enhancement Project will improve the quality and opportunity in secondary education, by expanding access to secondary education, through commercial schools upgrade and mobility between branches of the system. Further objectives are to assess skills needs and professional development for teachers, and, strengthen institutional capacity. The quality improvement component include, the conversion of commercial schools, to reach a 50-50 percent balance in technical vs. general schools enrollment, and support the revision for a comprehensive curriculum, associated with teacher training and an integrated technology practice. The second component will strengthen institutional capacity, through management and accountability of school grants, and the development of educational quality assurance policies. Technical assistance will support professional development for education providers.